Vaider at 20 months
We are starting to be able to work on some yields with Vaider. These yields are starting to enable him to reach a little farther for the outside eye. If he does not release the stock on his gather he tends to run short (this is the reason we have been so antsy to work on his yields).
He is beginning to be able to drive both cattle and sheep. He shows a lot of patience in his driving giving the stock plenty of time to move off of him; this does diminish some battles as the stock trust him and is very nice for young stock.
I am still letting him be a little pushy on his lifts but it is beginning to feel like we need to start to ask him to change that. I have been letting him be pushy on his lifts hoping that it will build him up for the cattle work.
Setting stock for a Larry Painter clinic hosted by Kelly Orr in New Plymoth Idaho the other week, Vaider did step up to deal with the cattle and their draws. The cattle that were being used were young dairy bulls. I was pleased with what Vaider showed, holding the heads well and even showing some strength turning back some of these bulls from running to the feed yard or towards the others not being used.
Vaider is slowly becoming less of a specialist and more of an all-round dog. He has always been a nice dog to hang out with. He likes to be with me and is very manageable in most situations.